4K Up-scaling - Enhance the home theater experience with four times the resolution of Full HD 1080p by up-scaling all video sources to 4K (3840 x 2160) output resolution.

2D to 3D Conversion – Take your standard DVD, Blu-ray, and other video content to the next dimension by converting them into 3D with the simple press of a button. The BDP-105 can also adjust the depth and eye convergence levels to suit your personal preference.

Dual HDMI Inputs – Connect external devices such as set-top boxes and network streaming devices to take further advantage of the excellent audio and video processing functions by the BDP-105. The BDP-105 offers two HDMI inputs, one on the front and one on the back, and the front HDMI input doubles as an MHL input.

USB Asynchronous DAC – By bypassing the low fidelity, poor quality DAC of traditional computer soundcards, the BDP-105 turn any computer into a high performing multi-media source by converting digital audio to analog through the ESS Sabre32 Reference DAC. If your computer can play it, the BDP-105 can convert it to analog.

Coaxial/Optic Inputs – For additional convenience and flexibility, the BDP-105 can convert digital signals from cable and satellite boxes, televisions, video-game consoles and other digital transports with coaxial and optical digital outputs to analog.

SMB/CIFS Access - The BDP-105 comes with an experimental feature that can access video, audio and picture files shared by computers on the local network via the Server Message Block (SMB) or Common Internet File System (CIFS) protocol.

Headphone Amplifier – For a more intimate listening experience, a pair of headphones can be connected directly to the BDP-105’s built-in headphone amplifiers. The headphone amplifier is connected directly to the ESS Sabre32 Reference DAC and offers a unique performance advantage over standalone headphone amplifiers.

Rigid Chassis Construction - Built around a steel chassis, aluminum faceplate, and center-mounted disc loader, the BDP-105 is designed to impress as well as to provide a stable base for the highest quality reproduction of your favorite media.

Fanless Architecture – The BDP-105 is passively cooled, allowing it to run both cool and quiet without the need for internal or external fans.

High Fidelity Audio Performance:

SABRE32 Reference Audio DAC - The DAC is one of the most important components for digital audio playback. The SABRE32 Reference ES9018 from ESS Technology is the world’s best performing 32-bit audio DAC solution targeted for high-end consumer applications and professional studio equipment. With the ESS patented 32-bit Hyperstream™ DAC architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, the SABRE32 Reference DAC delivers an unprecedented DNR (Dynamic Range) of up to 135dB and THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise) of -120dB, the industry’s highest performance level that will satisfy even the most demanding audio enthusiast. The BDP-105 uses two ES9018 DAC chips - one for the 7.1-channel output, and another for the dedicated stereo output. To learn more about the technologies behind the exceptional performance of the SABRE DAC, please read the SABRE Technical White Paper.

Toroidal Power Supply - A toroidal power transformer offers superior power efficiency and much lower exterior magnetic fields over traditional laminated steel core transformers. The BDP-105's toroidal linear power supply provides a very clean and robust power source to the critical audio components.

Dedicated Stereo Output with XLR Balanced Connectors - The BDP-105 features a dedicated 2-channel analog output with specially optimized ES9018 DAC and output driving stages. The stereo output offers both XLR balanced and RCA single-ended connectors. The balanced output features a true differential signal path all the way from the DAC to the 3-pin XLR connector. By transmitting a pair of differential signals, the balanced output provides better common-mode noise rejection and improves signal quality.

7.1-Channel Analog Output - Individual analog 7.1-channel surround outputs are ideal for connecting to a 7.1-channel or 5.1-channel surround sound system. The BDP-105 delivers an incredible sound stage and an immersive surround experience. The 7.1-channel analog output can also be configured to a stereo down-mix mode as a Zone 2 audio source.

DTS-HD Master Audio™ - DTS-HD Master Audio delivers an auditory experience that matches the lifelike images of high-definition video with up to 7.1 channels that are bit-for-bit identical to the studio master. The BDP-105 supports bit-stream output of DTS-HD Master Audio. It can also internally decode DTS-HD Master Audio and output via HDMI or the 7.1ch analog audio output terminals. (DTS-HD High Resolution Audio and DTS Digital Surround are also supported.)

Blu-ray 3D – Experience high definition in all new dimensions. The BDP-105 supports the Blu-ray 3D specifications and is fully compatible with Blu-ray 3D discs1.

SACD - The BDP-105 plays Super Audio CD (SACD) and supports both stereo and multi-channel high resolution audio programs. Users can select whether to output the DSD (Direct Stream Digital) signal in its native format or convert it to PCM.

DVD-Audio - The BDP-105 plays DVD-Audio and supports both stereo and multi-channel high resolution audio programs. Users can select whether to play the DVD-Audio or the DVD-Video portion of the disc.

VUDU HD Movie Streaming - Stream thousands of movies instantly the day-and-date they are released on DVD/Blu-ray in stunning 1080p video, rich 7.1 surround audio and even in 3D2.

Pandora Internet Radio - Personalized music streaming using the Music Genome Project, staying true to their mission: "Playing only the music you'll love".4

Comprehensive Internet Streaming - In addition to VUDU, Netflix and Pandora, the BDP-105 provides access to popular entertainment network services from Film Fresh, YouTube Leanback and Picasa, with more to come.

BD-Live & BonusVIEW - The BDP-105 supports BD-Live™ (Profile 2.0) and contains all necessary hardware - audio/video decoder, Ethernet and wireless networking, and 1GB of internal storage - for BD-Live. It also supports BonusVIEW (Profile 1.1) enabling "picture-in-picture" and audio features for viewing director or actor commentary while the main movie is playing.

Additional Disc & Media Formats - Additional disc and file formats, such as DVD, audio CD, HDCD, Kodak Picture CD, AVCHD, MP4, AVI, MKV and other audio/video/picture files on recorded discs or USB drives can be played back on the BDP-105. The BDP-105 fully supports high-resolution lossless WAV and FLAC music formats.5

Unparalleled Video Quality:

Qdeo by Marvell - The BDP-105 incorporates Marvell's Kyoto-G2H video processor with the latest generation Qdeo™ technology. Qdeo video processing delivers a truly immersive viewing experience by rendering quiet natural video free of noise and artifacts for all types of content. For high-quality Blu-ray content, the BDP-105 faithfully reproduces the program just as the director intended; for DVD, the up-converted picture quality bridges the visual gap from your current DVD library to Blu-ray discs; for network streaming and user-encoded content at a variety of formats and quality, the BDP-105 offers enhancement options including video noise reduction, compression artifact reduction, intelligent color, contrast, detail and edge enhancements. To learn more about the Qdeo video processing technology, please read the Qdeo Extended Technology Brief.

DVD Up-Conversion - Per-pixel motion-adaptive de-interlacing and advanced scaling transform the standard definition image on DVDs to high definition output on your TV. Additional Qdeo video processing options help to deliver a clearer, smoother, and more true-to-life picture free of noise and artifacts.

True 24p™ Video - Many Blu-ray Discs are recorded at 24 frames per second, the same frame rate as the original movie's theatrical release. The BDP-105 can faithfully redeliver the original frames using 1080p 24Hz output (compatible display required) for smoother motion and a flicker-free, film-like home theater experience. It can also restore the original 24 frames per second progressive-scan video from well-authored DVDs and output 1080p 24Hz.

Source Direct Mode - For users who wish to use an external video processor, the BDP-105 offers a "Source Direct" mode. The original audio/video content on the discs is sent out with no additional processing or alteration.

Multiple Zoom Modes - The BDP-105 supports multiple levels of aspect ratio control and image zooming. Users can watch a movie in its original aspect ratio, fit to the full screen, or zoom in to remove the black bars on some titles.

Vertical Stretch Mode - For customers with a 2.35:1 CIH (Constant Image Height) display system, the player's zoom options include a vertical stretch mode to work nicely with an anamorphic lens. A unique subtitle shift feature allows the user to move the subtitle up and down, making it possible to see all subtitle text when using a 2.35:1 CIH display.

Advanced Picture Control - Users can have fine control of brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, sharpness, noise reduction, color and contrast enhancements. The player can remember and apply three custom picture control modes to suit a variety of viewing conditions and content types.

Ultimate Convenience:

Dual HDMI Outputs – Two HDMI v1.4a output ports are provided to offer the most versatile installation options to both older and newer HDMI equipment. You do not have to upgrade your A/V receiver to a 3D model in order to enjoy 3D. One HDMI output of the BDP-105 can be connected to a 3D TV and the other can be connected to a pre-3D HDMI v1.1-v1.3 A/V receiver. For projector users, you can connect one output to a projector for home theater use and the other to a TV for casual viewing. For a multi-room installation the BDP-105 can output audio and video to two 3D or 2D TVs simultaneously.

MHL Input – Simplify connecting smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices to the home theater by using the MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) input port of the BDP-105. Display high resolution pictures, 1080p video and listen to pure digital music all while simultaneously charging the connected mobile device. The front HDMI input port of the BDP-105 doubles as an MHL input.

Wireless & Ethernet – Using the included wireless-N adapter or the built-in RJ45 Ethernet port, users will be able to interact with BD-Live content, watch instant streaming programs from providers such as Netflix or VUDU, playback contents stored on their home network, and keep the BDP-105 up-to-date with firmware releases to ensure maximum Blu-ray compatibility.

Triple USB Ports - Three USB 2.0 high speed ports are provided, one on the front panel and two on the back. Users can enjoy high definition video, high resolution photos and music directly from their USB drives.

PAL/NTSC Conversion - The BDP-105 supports NTSC and PAL systems for both disc playback and video output. It can also convert content of one system for output in another. (Subject to DVD and BD region restrictions.)

Back-lit Remote Control - The BDP-105 comes with a fully back-lit remote control for ease of use in dark home theaters. With its ergonomic button layout and clear labeling, operating the Blu-ray Disc player is easier than ever.

World Power Supply - The BDP-105 features a world power supply that is compatible with AC power from all regions. Voltage range from 100V-120V and 200V-240V can be selected by flipping a switch on the back panel.

External IR - For integration into home theater control systems, the BDP-105 provides an external IR IN port to use with an IR distribution system.

RS232 Control - For custom installation, the BDP-105 offers an RS232 control port with a rich control and communication protocol. Installers can easily program their favorite control systems to operate the BDP-105.

Remote Control Apps – For additional user convenience, the BDP-105 can be operated using remote control apps running on compatible smartphone and tablet devices. The remote control app for Android is already available. An app for Apple iOS devices is coming soon.

HDMI CEC - HDMI Consumer Electronics Control simplifies the home theater by allowing a single remote control to operate multiple devices.

Gracenote MusicID® and VideoID™ - By connecting to Gracenote's global media database over the Internet, the BDP-105 can offer an enriched playback experience by displaying Cover Art, Title, Artist, Genre and other media information for CD, DVD, Blu-ray and a wide range of digital media files.

I have some first impressions of the Oppo 105. I also have an 83 and a 95 (although the 95 will be going up for sale soon)

Firstly, its big and its heavy. It is very solid and feels a high-end quality product. Compared to the Oppo 83 of old, it is in a different class.

The only physical thing that the 95 had, that the 105 doesn't is plastic dust covers over all the RCA connectors!

In the box was the usual Oppo branded shopping bag, HDMI cable, new style remote, WiFi adapter and stand/cable for it, batteries and UK mains lead. And I was also given an Oppo branded 8GB USB stick and AIX 3D music and calibration disc.

One reason I wanted the 105 was to be able to simplify my set-up. I have a Lexicon MC-12 and use the analogue 5.1 inputs from my Toshiba XE1 HD DVD player, and the Oppo. To connect both things I had a high-end Zektor switcher. But this means lots of cables, and the switch must affect things no matter high-end it is. With the 105 I can connect the Toshiba XE1 through the Oppo, and use the DACs of the Oppo (which are better), thus meaning only one set of cables to the processor. I got this working very quickly, but I have had a couple of HDMI handshake hiccups that have left me with a black screen that I need to figure out what element in the chain is causing it.

Today, I spent most of the time comparing the Oppo headphone amplifier to my dedicated Burson Soloist. I have Audeze LCD-3 headphones, which are magnetic planar headphones. I am in love with them. When you want to listen to your music late at night, you don’t want to disturb others in the house (or neighbours), but you don’t want to compromise your listening either. Up until now I always thought headphones were a “poor mans” listen compared to my high-end speakers. These headphones changed my mind on that. Tonally they sound almost identical to my main set-up. They may not have quite the soundstage you get with speakers, but you do get more intimacy instead which isn’t a bad thing. They are more demanding than some headphones in terms of their power requirements. I was concerned that the Oppo would fail to drive them well. I need to eat a little humble pie. Although I have to turn up the volume to around 75 out of 100 on the Oppo, it is more than capable of driving the headphones. However, compared to the Soloist which can output watts rather than milliwatts, the Oppo is lacking some of the dynamics and texture, and ultimately realism of the original music. That is not to say it is poor in any way. Quite the opposite, the headphone output is firmly into audiophile territory. Some may love the smooth, sweet, and easy to listen to sound it produces. In fact I may choose to use it on occasions when I want to relax and unwind. It is also somewhat unfair to compare an 800 pounds (UK) headphone amplifier to a 1000 pound (UK) play-everything super player. The Oppo may do even better with easier headphones. While I would have been shocked if it had equalled or even bettered the Burson, it gets a lot closer than I thought it would!

I haven’t done much comparison yet with the 95 on the multi-channel and stereo outputs. I did notice that at the fixed output level they seemed to be a couple of dB quieter than the 95. I won't be able to A/B switch, but I will be able to ascertain if it is at least as good as the 95. The 105 removes the DAC stacking (4 per channel) on the dedicated stereo output in order to power the RCA/XLRs at the same time, and drive 2 per channel for the headphone output. Oppo claim they found no sonic benefit in stacking the DACs. This became fashionable but now seems to be falling out of favour. Also the 105 uses AC coupling rather than DC as per the 95. DC coupling has the advantage of ruler flat bass frequency responses down to 1Hz. Oppo assure us that although they have switched to AC coupling for compatibility reasons (with external amps etc), that they have still achieved very good linear bass response.

One thing I will say though, this player is fast. People bought the 83 for its speed over the Sony’s and Pioneer’s of the time. The new models really crank up the gears another notch, and even the settings menus are clearly much more zippy to use.

I have done some very brief comparisons of the 95 against the 105 in terms of the stereo outputs. They do sound a bit different, and I am finding that the output level is slightly different meaning I have to volume compensate (105 is quieter). The 105 is slightly brighter sounding, and possibly connected, it gives the impression of being faster in handling transients. Or in other words the perception is a slightly higher resolution at those higher frequencies. The downside is it also gives me the perception of slightly thinner bass at times, but one perception influences the other here. I have to say at first listens the 105 is better to my ears. I am not going to pretend the difference is dramatic. It isn't. But they do have a different presentation. My first guess is that its the power supply that is responsible for these changes more than anything else, but this is just pure speculation.

I need to do much more listening, but its very important not to do too much in a comparison session otherwise the ears start playing tricks and you get fatigued...so this will take some days.

Overall though, I can say with a fair amount of certainty that the 105 is not a downward step over the 95 despite the loss of DAC stacking.

I have done some very brief comparisons of the 95 against the 105 in terms of the stereo outputs. They do sound a bit different, and I am finding that the output level is slightly different meaning I have to volume compensate (105 is quieter). The 105 is slightly brighter sounding, and possibly connected, it gives the impression of being faster in handling transients. Or in other words the perception is a slightly higher resolution at those higher frequencies. The downside is it also gives me the perception of slightly thinner bass at times, but one perception influences the other here. I have to say at first listens the 105 is better to my ears. I am not going to pretend the difference is dramatic. It isn't. But they do have a different presentation. My first guess is that its the power supply that is responsible for these changes more than anything else, but this is just pure speculation.
I need to do much more listening, but its very important not to do too much in a comparison session otherwise the ears start playing tricks and you get fatigued...so this will take some days.
Overall though, I can say with a fair amount of certainty that the 105 is not a downward step over the 95 despite the loss of DAC stacking.

Thanks for this. I would be very interested in any other 95/ 105 owners to give us some comparisons of the analog outputs of both units.

You must let the 105 run for at least 2-3 weeks before it will sound its best. Out of the box, you will get a somewhat thin and grainy closed down sound. This was true for the 95 as well. I had two stock 95s here at the same time, one brand new and one that had 200 plus hours. The burned in one sounded much better.

I had an Eastern Electric DAC here that also uses the ES9018 DAC and the thing sounds wonderful.....better than a stock 95 and I bet better than stock 105. It uses only one set of the outputs from the DAC. Shocked me when I noticed this. Maybe the paralleling thing really does not make much difference with this chip. Maybe depends on what kind of output stage you are using. We shall see.

I received my first 105 today and will give it a quick listen and then start the burn in process. I will run it on repeat and also ocasionally use the Tara Labs burn in disc with the output stage loaded with a low impedance resistor. I will let everyone know what I think of the sound when I have burned it in.

I just checked the voltage on the output op amp just before the output coupling caps. There is some DC voltage offset when the unit is powering up and some when powering down. All this is stopped by the coupling caps. The voltage offset is never more than one and a half volts but if you had your volume control way up or were using the unit directly into an amp with the digital volume control and your amp was on and you turned it on.....not good. So, for most people, they will want to keep the stock coupling cap (a very good Elna Silmic cap). Of course, this opens the way for better coupling caps to be used. In some systems, you could get away with not having the coupling cap. After the unit settles there is less than 15 mv offset. The stock electrolytic coupling cap will take a while to really sound good.

Giddy with excitement. I've been lucky enough to be chosen to review this unit for The Absolute Sound. I'll be focusing the review on what this unit does above and beyond the 95...and also focusing on what $199 buys you if you're using it as an external DAC. I don't personally use headphone amps but I have a decent pair of Etymotics that I'll use to evaluate it against my Creek Evolution 2 integrated.

I agree with JonStatt, I won't be hurrying through this review as I know its significance. The upside is, if you have any great ideas for the review, feel free to PM me and I'll see what I can do. I'll also be doing a follow-up review in early 2013 comparing it against some other reputable DACs to see if this truly is, the one box miracle it appears to be on paper.

Giddy with excitement. I've been lucky enough to be chosen to review this unit for The Absolute Sound. I'll be focusing the review on what this unit does above and beyond the 95...and also focusing on what $199 buys you if you're using it as an external DAC. I don't personally use headphone amps but I have a decent pair of Etymotics that I'll use to evaluate it against my Creek Evolution 2 integrated.
I agree with JonStatt, I won't be hurrying through this review as I know its significance. The upside is, if you have any great ideas for the review, feel free to PM me and I'll see what I can do. I'll also be doing a follow-up review in early 2013 comparing it against some other reputable DACs to see if this truly is, the one box miracle it appears to be on paper.
I welcome your comments and suggestions.

Guys, I've been playing with the 105 for a couple of hours. I will burn it in for a few days before making any comments on sound. One thing though is netflix and vudu. I have a Samsung smart TV with a USB wireless stick and also a Roku. Both of these have no issues streaming netflix. The Oppo is very slow to start streaming and then when it does the connection will be lost and tries to reconnect. Vudu won't load at all. Anyone else seen this? Maybe I have a dud wireless adaptor? I did notice the 95 was slow to load netflix as well. I'm using a Cisco E3000 which is no slug.

Guys, I've been playing with the 105 for a couple of hours. I will burn it in for a few days before making any comments on sound. One thing though is netflix and vudu. I have a Samsung smart TV with a USB wireless stick and also a Roku. Both of these have no issues streaming netflix. The Oppo is very slow to start streaming and then when it does the connection will be lost and tries to reconnect. Vudu won't load at all. Anyone else seen this? Maybe I have a dud wireless adaptor? I did notice the 95 was slow to load netflix as well. I'm using a Cisco E3000 which is no slug.

Cheers
DJ

Check Setup > Network Setup > Connection Info for your signal strength and to confirm you are connecting to the Wifi base you intended to use.

Improvements in networking performance can come from lots of things. For example, use the included USB extender to try different positioning of the Wifi dongle.

Also try using a different DNS service, such as OpenDNS or Google's public DNS. You can set DNS address numbers in the IP Settings > Manual. For some of these services, the server farm they connect you to is determined by the DNS service you use (a surrogate for your location). If that results in you getting connected to a distant server farm, then you get poorer performance.

You may also be suffering from interference on your Wifi. Try setting your base station to use a different Wifi channel. Interference can come from neighbor Wifi, cordless phones, poorly shielded microwave ovens, etc.
--Bob

I'm looking at the BDP-103, and I wonder if the analog audio section of the BDP-105 would be noticeably better than the one in my Pioneer Elite SC-05. The SC-05 uses a 192 kHz / 24-bit DAC (Wolfson WM8740). I have a collection of SACDs, and I'm looking for a good replacement for my "fat" PS3, which died last year. My speakers are Ascend Acoustics, not the best, but certainly not bad.

Check Setup > Network Setup > Connection Info for your signal strength and to confirm you are connecting to the Wifi base you intended to use.
In VUDU, check My VUDU > Info & Settings > Network Speed Test to see what sort of speed the VUDU app is seeing.
Improvements in networking performance can come from lots of things. For example, use the included USB extender to try different positioning of the Wifi dongle.
Also try using a different DNS service, such as OpenDNS or Google's public DNS. You can set DNS address numbers in the IP Settings > Manual. For some of these services, the server farm they connect you to is determined by the DNS service you use (a surrogate for your location). If that results in you getting connected to a distant server farm, then you get poorer performance.
You may also be suffering from interference on your Wifi. Try setting your base station to use a different Wifi channel. Interference can come from neighbor Wifi, cordless phones, poorly shielded microwave ovens, etc.
--Bob

Thanks Bob. The point is the Samsung USB, the roku and the Oppo are all connected to the same wifi base through the same TV (Samsung). So everything is the same. The roku can be in a cupboard and still has no performance issues. The only one having an issue is the Oppo. The signal strength is 66%. I also tried the extender with no luck.

I rechecked netflix through the Samsung USB and the roku and no issues and full HD. The Oppo, if it connects has poor picture quality and is having obvious issues with throughput.

I'm thinking either the Oppo adapter needs a stronger signal than either the Samsung USB or Roku or the oppo adaptor I have is a dud. I will contact Oppo about it and see if I can get another one.

Got mine as well... May get to it later tonight. I still have my 95, but the 105 allows me to sell the W4S DAC2 and my Woo Audio W2 simplifying the system a bit. My MacMini, Squeezebox Touch, and Denon D7000 has a new friend. I'm gonna love the new 105.

I received my unit today and began playing around with it a bit.
The main reason I bought the 105 over the 103 was the headphone amp. I gave a few CDs a few spins with my Audez'e LCD-2s and Sennheiser 800s. The headphone amp sounds very nice.

For the sake of comparison, can i ask which headphone amp (and DAC) you were using prior to the 105?

For the sake of comparison, can i ask which headphone amp (and DAC) you were using prior to the 105?

I'm probably not the guy to ask that question to for any sort of definitive answer because up until now I've been using the headphone jack of my Yamaha RX-A2000 receiver. I'd been looking to invest in a headphone amp, but I heard about the 105 including one so I held off buying one until the 105 was released. My post was more to indicate that the 105's headphone amp (to my ears) gets the job done with the two cans I mentioned.

JonStatt's post #4 will give you a better idea of the 105's headphone amp's quality.

I have connected my 105 to my AVR via HDMI 1 to take advantage of the QDEO processing. The manual states that DSD via HDMI is only available thru HDMI 2. But I still get audio when I select DSD for SACD Output even though HDMI 1 should only be passing PCM.

You're right, Bob! I just switched it to HDMI 2, and now the display says "DSD". I just assumed it wouldn't output any audio at all if DSD was selected via HDMI 1.

I'm enjoying the player, though I haven't yet been able to grab my SPL meter and properly calibrate the Speaker Configuration to really take advantage of the DACs. Via HDMI though (with Audyssey engaged), everything sounds great. Looking forward to really taking the DACs for a test drive, since that's why I went with the 105 over the 103.

The question now is, are the DACs good enough that I can get rid of my Lindemann 24/192 USB DAC connected to my Mac Mini Music Server and just use the 105...

I'm probably not the guy to ask that question to for any sort of definitive answer because up until now I've been using the headphone jack of my Yamaha RX-A2000 receiver. I'd been looking to invest in a headphone amp, but I heard about the 105 including one so I held off buying one until the 105 was released. My post was more to indicate that the 105's headphone amp (to my ears) gets the job done with the two cans I mentioned.
JonStatt's post #4 will give you a better idea of the 105's headphone amp's quality.

Can you elaborate on the sound a bit more than "nice", if possible? I'm curious too about the headphone performance with the Audeze headphones. Jon Scott above did a nice review, but we need more reviewers when available. How far can you turn up the volume on the 105 before you give up? Need to know how beefy the amplifier is ....

Finally had a moment to do some calibrating with the SPL meter. The 105 has officially passed the wife acceptance test. I played Steely Dan's "Gaucho" DVD-A through the Analog output, then through the HDMI to my Denon AVR-4308ci (with Audyssey MultiEQ XT). While HDMI with Audyssey definitely had a warmer sound, even her "untrained" ears preferred the clarity of the superior DACs in the 105. I boosted the SW level in the 105 to warm it up a little, and the result was audio nirvana.

I plan on replacing my Denon AVR-4308ci (which I only use as a Pre/Pro to my Sunfire Cinema Grand II Amp) with either an Integra 80.3 or a Marantz 8801, both of which have Audyssey MultiEQ XT32. At that point, it might be harder to decide between HDMI or Analog out of the 105...

Finally had a moment to do some calibrating with the SPL meter. The 105 has officially passed the wife acceptance test. I played Steely Dan's "Gaucho" DVD-A through the Analog output, then through the HDMI to my Denon AVR-4308ci (with Audyssey MultiEQ XT). While HDMI with Audyssey definitely had a warmer sound, even her "untrained" ears preferred the clarity of the superior DACs in the 105. I boosted the SW level in the 105 to warm it up a little, and the result was audio nirvana.
I plan on replacing my Denon AVR-4308ci (which I only use as a Pre/Pro to my Sunfire Cinema Grand II Amp) with either an Integra 80.3 or a Marantz 8801, both of which have Audyssey MultiEQ XT32. At that point, it might be harder to decide between HDMI or Analog out of the 105...

Can you elaborate on the sound a bit more than "nice", if possible:) ? I'm curious too about the headphone performance with the Audeze headphones. Jon Scott above did a nice review, but we need more reviewers when available. How far can you turn up the volume on the 105 before you give up? Need to know how beefy the amplifier is ....

Sorry about the lack of description. I only had a short amount of time to set the player up and test out how the headphone amp sounded. By "nice" I mean the sound was smooth, detailed, and non-fatiguing. (I was listening to selected cuts from the CD versions of the Cure's Greatest Hits and John Hiatt's "Riding With The King" and an SACD of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust.)

I did some further headphone listening tonight switching back and forth between the headphone jacks on the 105 and my Yamaha 2000 and my Sennheiser 800s and the LCD-2s

I put in Clash of the Titans 3-D in the 105 with the 800s and the 105 didn't seem to muscle up a great deal of volume. The detail was very nice, but I had the volume up to 90 and above. On the Yamaha, there was plenty of headroom to go higher and the movie played much louder. Switching over to the LCD-2s, the 105 provided a better sound (clearer and more detailed), but again the volume was up to 85 to 90 to give me the sort of immersion that I craved. Again, the Yamaha easily played the movie louder if not as cleanly and crisply.

I put in Quadrophenia SACD (import) and again I was rather disappointed with the amount of volume from the 105 with the 800s. I could push the volume to 100 without distorting, but I've never listened to my cans at near maximum volume before. (Maybe it's a psychological thing or maybe I'm just getting old. .) Quadrophenia sounded better on the 105 with the LCD-2s, but the volume was in the 85 and up region.

At this juncture, I'm enjoying how the 105 and the LCD-2s interact with each other. The 800s and the Yamaha seem to work better for me. I'll let my ears (and body) get a good night's rest and do some more exploring tomorrow.